Grapples



1,592,080 c. T. COATES GRAPPLES Filed Make 11; 1926 ArraR/vn s P atented July 13, 1926.

CLEHTON CGATES, OF GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.

GRAPPLES.

Application filed. March 11, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in grapples, and more particularly to a grapple in the form of a hoist grab having gripping jaws adapted to receive articles to be lifted by a hoisting apparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a grapple, or hoist grab, having a simple suspension device whereby the grip aing jaws are firmly closed to securely grip the object to be lifted.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of this kind adapted to be very easily and quickly applied to removed from the articles to be lifted. with this object in view the new device comprises a simple locking means whereby the gripping jaws may be retained in their open positions" until they are properly located at opposite sides of an article to be lifted, thus avoiding the labor of opening the jaws and holding them in their open positions while the device is being dropped onto the object. This locking device can be readily released to permit closing of the jaws, and thereafter, when the article has been lifted and deposited at the desired location, the jaws are automatically opened to release the article and the locking devices will then automatically lock the jaws in their open positions. The jaws are thus automatically released and held in their open positions until they are positioned to grip another object.

Fig. I is a front elevation of a grapple embodying the features of this invention, showing the gripping jaws locked in their open positions and located at opposite sides of the object to be lifted.

Fig. II is a view similar to Fig. I, showing the gripping jaws engaged with the object to be lifted.

Fig. III is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. I.

To illustrate one form of the invention, I have shown a pair of angular levers A having oppositely disposed gripping jaws 1 at the lower ends, and provided with lever arms 2 which diverge from said gripping jaws. These levers are pivotally connected together through the medium of a fulcrum pin 3. Toggle links 4: are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the diverging lever arms 2. B designates a suspension lever comprising a connecting arm 5 secured to the toggle links by means of pivot pins Serial No. 93,904.

6, and a suspension arm 7 extending up wardly from said connecting arm 5.

The means for suspending and lifting the grapple may include a ring 8 secured to the suspension arm 7, and a chain 9 secured to said ring.

To illustrate the means for locking the gripping jaws in their open positions, I have shown a latch dog 10 pivoted at 11 to the lever arm of one of the levers A, and an abutment shoulder 12 on the other lever adapted to be engaged by said latch dog. T he last mentioned lever is preferably recessed to form the abutment shoulder 12. 15-3 designates a stop pin for limiting the upward movement of latch dog 10.

Attention is now directed to the suspension lever B provided wth the connecting arm 5 and suspension arm 7. Assuming that the member shown at X is a heavy object to be lifted by a hoisting device, when the gripping jaws 1 are closed on this object X, as shown by Fig. II, the Suspension means 8 and 9 will be elevated to lift the object. The load will then be supported by the suspension lever B, and as a consequence, this lever will constantly tend to close the gripping jaws, the links a being placed under tension and the jaws 1 being forced toward each other so as to firmly grip the object between them. The gripping power will depend upon the weight of the object X, and the comparatively heavy objects will be gripped more firmly than the lighter ones, for the power necessary to lift the object must be transmitted through the suspension lever B which tends to close the gripping jaws.

Before the gripping jaws ar closed on the object to be lifted, the device is dropped onto the object X as shown by Fig. I, while the latch dog 10 retains the jaws in their open positions. The latch dog is then lifted from the abutment shoulder 12, and the suspension means 89 is elevated to actuate the lever B which forces the gripping aws into engagement with the object, as shown by F II. hen the suspension means is low ered to deposit the object X, the gripping jaws remain in firm engagement with the object until the latter reaches its lowermost position where it is supported independently of the grapple, as shown by II. A continued downward movement of the suspension means will then cause the gripping iii) jaws to move from the gripping positions shown by Fig. H to the open positions shown by Fig. I, and the free end of the latch dog 10 will then drop into the notch at the abutment shoulder 12, so as to lock the gripping jaws in their open positions. The grapple can then be lifted from the object and thereafter lowered onto another object, without requiring any manual operation of the gripping jaws.

In the drawings 1 have shown two pairs of links t and the links of one pair are longer than the other pair, the pivot 6 connecting the suspension lever to the long links being located near the vertical center line of the grapple. The pairs of links i are alined with each other and the upper portions of levers A are offset (Fig. 111) so as to lie between links at.

T0 permit the span of the gripping jaws l to be increased 1 provide the angular levers A with a plurality of apertures through which-the fulcrum pin 3 may be passed. in accordancewith this arrangement the fulcrum pin may be withdrawn from the registering apertures 3 through which it is extended in the craw' and the angular levers A moved to pOEitlOllS where the aperture 3" formed through one of the levers A registers with the aperture 3 formed through the other lever A, after which the fulcrum pin may be passed through said registering apertures. will cause the gripping jaws 1 to be moved away from each other and thus provide for a wider span of said jaws.

hen the angular levers A are adjustel as described the upper ends of said levers are also moved so that the pivot pins which connect said upper ends of said levers to the toggle links 4: may be passed through the auxiliary apertures 4L formed in said toggle links. Also, an auxiliary recess adapted to receive the nose portion of the latch dog 10 is provided for use when the adjustments described have been made.

This

links, said suspension lever comprising a connecting arm to which the links are pivoted and a suspension arm extending from said connecting arm, and suspension means secured to said suspension arm.

2. A grapple comprising a pair of levers having oppositely disposed gripping jaws their lower ends and lever arms diverging from said gripping jaws, a fulcrum pin connecting said levers, toggle links pivoted to the upper ends of the diverging lever arms, a suspension lever connecting said toggle links, said suspension lever comprisin a connecting arm to which the link are p 'o'ted and a suspension arm extending upwai- -y from said connecting arm, and-suspension means secured to said suspension arm.

3. A grapple comprising a pair of levers having oppositely disposed gripping jaws at their lower ends and provided with lever arms which diverge from said gripp' jaws, a fulcrum connecting said levers, toggle links pivoted to the diverging lever arms, a suspension lever connecting said tog 'le links, said suspension lever compr a connecting arm to which the links are pivoted and suspension arm extending from said connecting arm, suspension means secured to said suspension arm, and locking means cooperating with said levers to retain said gripping jaws in their open positions, said locking means including a latch dog pivoted to one of said levers and an aoutment on the other lever adapted to be engaged by said latch dog.

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

CLINTON T. COATES. 

